Shoe heel covering machine



March 6, 1962 A. BACON. ETAL 3,023,435

SHOE HEEL COVERING MACHINE Filed Nov. 18, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Arno/d Bacpn Arno/d L. Silva/man Joseph /V. Cote 48 INVENTORS 102 BY 42 I04 I06 Fig.5 I46 WW MQ- March 6, 1962 Filed NOV. 18, 1959 A. BACON ETAL SHOE HEEL COVERING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Arno/d Bacon Arno/d L. Silverman Joseph N. Cafe 1N VENTORS March 6, 1962 A. BACON ETAL 3,023,435

SHOE HEEL COVERING MACHINE Filed Nov. 18, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Arno/d Bacon Arno/d L. .Si/verman Jaseph M Cote INVENTORS March 6, 1962 A. BACON ETAL 3,023,435

SHOE HEEL COVERING MACHINE Filed Nov. 18, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Arno/d Bacon Arno/d L. Silverman Joseph A. Cafe IN VENTORS March 6, 1962 A. BACON ETAL 3,023,435

SHOE HEEL COVERING MACHINE Filed Nov. 18, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Hgz/l I78 I82 I84 I} l] Arnold Baqon Arno/d L .Sllverman Joseph N Cote 1N VEN TORS 3,023,435 snon nnnr. covnnmo MAC Arnold Bacon and Arnold L. Silverman, Lowell, and

The present invention generally relates to a machine for covering heels and more particularly to such a machine for applying covers to ladies heels.

In the shoe industry, one problem which exists is the application of covers to the exterior side and rear surfaces of a ladys heel and especially the heels in current day use which employ a relatively small shank. There have been provided machines for covering heels but such machines have proven generally ineffective to the extent that such heel covers are now normally applied by hand. The heels themselves may be constructed of various materials such as wood or plastic with plastic currently being predominantly used. The covers for the heels are made of various materials of a fabric nature such as suede and the like. The cover is cut to a predetermined pattern included with an adhesive on the inner surface thereof and the heel is coated with an adhesive on the outer surface thereof. The adhesively coated heels and covers are supplied to production workers who manually apply the covers to the heels.

There usually is provided a jig or pedal operated clamp mechanism for holding the heels While the cover is applied with the operator being required to smooth the cover and pull it tightly against the heel so that it will properly adhere to the heel. The cover also has to be pushed down onto a portion of the periphery of the top attaching face of the heel and also against a portion of the top lift attaching face or tread of the heel and also against the breast or front surface of the heel with that portion engaging the breast having notches out therein at the point of curvature so that the cover may closely fit the surface of the heel. While such an operation is successful to a certain extent, it requires considerable skill and dexterity on the part of the operators and requires a relatively long period of time for each heel thus increasing the labor cost and the over-all production cost of the covered heel. It is the primary purpose of the present invention to provide a machine in which an operator may place a heel and a cover and then actuate the machine with the machine causing the cover to be mounted on the heel with it being smoothed out and pressed onto the heel not only about the rear and side curved surfaces thereof but also along the edges of the breast, along the edges of the top attaching face and along the edges of the top lift attaching face of the heel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine in accordance with the preceding object in which the entire sequence of events in covering the heel with the cover is automatic after the machine is initially operated for each cycle with the completely covered heel being separated from the machine automatically when the machine has accomplished the covering operation.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a heel covering machine which will not damage the covers but yet pull them sutficiently taut and apply them to the heel with such force that the covers will pass rigid inspection requirements as to freedom of wrinkles, absence of tears or overstressing and also complete adherence to the heel.

Another important feature of the present invention is to provide an arrangement in which the operation is pneumatically energized.

Still another feature of the present invention is to provide a heel covering machine employing basically a strip of resilient material supported at its ends together with a movable plunger for carrying a heel whereby the heel may be engaged with the strip of rubber and forced downwardly with the strip of rubber carrying the cover and being moved downwardly through a pair of swing plates which are spring urged together whereby the movement of the strip of rubber, the cover and heel down through the spring urged plate will cause the cover to be applied to the heel due to the resiliency of the rubber and due to the forces exerted on the rubber by the swing plates.

Still other features of the present invention will reside in its simplicity, its efliciency and operation, ease of use, labor saving characteristics, safety and generally inexpensiveness to manufacture and maintain.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the machine of the present invention as viewed from the position of the operator illustrating the orientation of the heel prior to the covering operation;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the structural orientation of the components of the machine;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse, plan sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the structure of the resilient strip member, the anchors therefor and the swing plates thereunder;

FIGURE 4 is a plan sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 4-4 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the construction of the swing plate illustrating the swing plates in extended position with the spring urging them together being removed and revealing the underlying structure;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 55 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the structure of the heel receiving forms;

FIGURE 6 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 6-6 of FIGURE 5 illustrating the mechanism of the heel receiving structure;

FIGURE 7 is a plan sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 77 of FIG- URE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a detailed sectional view illustrating the manner of attachment of the resilient strip;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of one of the heel engaging and clamping elements;

FIGURE 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the heel and cover and the assembly method involved in the present invention;

FIGURE 11 is a front elevational view of a modified heel covering machine in which the heel cover holding device is mounted on an index plate or subsequent orientation of the heel cover holders in alignment with a pneumatically. operated plunger mechanism;

FIGURE 12 is a plan view of the heel cover holding devices illustrated in FIGURE 11 illustrating the orientation thereof; and

FIGURE 13 is a transverse, sectional view of the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 11 illustrating the construction of the frame Work and the manner of supporting the index table.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the heel covering machine of the present invention for use in applying a cover generally designated by the numeral 12 to a heel generally designated by numeral 14 so that the cover which is cut to a predetermined pattern of sheet material 16 which is illustrated in FIGURE 10. The sheel material 16 may be of any material desired to be used to cover the heel and is generally of a fabric-like nature such as suede or the like.

The heel 14 is of conventional construction and is provided with a relatively small shank l8 terminating in a top lift attaching face 20 that is also provided with the usual breast face 22 and top attaching face-24 for connection with the shoe together with a rounded rear and side surface forming the covered surface of the heel which is designated by numeral 26. The construction of the heel 14 is of a conventional nature and forms no part of the present invention except in its association with the machine. The pattern is a particular pattern for covering the particular heel and particular shape, size and other characteristics of the cover will vary depending upon the nature of the heel to be covered and depending upon the nature of the material from which the cover is made. In assembling the cover 12 onto the heel 14, the inner surface of the sheet of material 16 is provided with a coating of adhesive of a type which will remain tacky for a considerable period of time so that the cover may be provided with the coating of adhesive at another work station and subsequently delivered to the machine of the present invention. Also, the heels 14 are provided with a coating of adhesive material on the surface 26 which has the same qualities as the adhesive on the cover so that when the two adhesive surfaces are brought together, they will be securely adhered throughout the entire surface area thereof. In assembling the cover 16, the edges of the cover are turned inwardly and overlie and engage the side edges of the breast 22 of the heel and also turn inwardly against the attaching face 24 about the peripheral edge thereof and also turns inwardly to partially cover but. not completely cover the top lift attaching face 20.

FIGURES 1 and 2 illustrate the heel 14 in position that it is placed by the operator with the top lift attaching face dispose dtoward the operator and engaged by a heel holding and gripping device 28 removably mounted on a piston rod 36 of a pneumatic piston and cylinder arrangement which includes a cylinder 32. The holding plate 28 is removable so that it may be replaced for holding other types of heels, other shapes of heels thereby rendering the machine versatile in utility. The cylinder 32 is mounted on a horizontal cross member 34 which rigidly interconnects a pair of upright frame members 36 all of which may be conveniently channoldron elements with the channel opening outwardly.

The operator is provided with a control switch 38 adjacent his Work station for controlling the flow of air pressure into and out of the cylinder 32 by virtue of a solenoid valve 40 which will control the inlet of air into the cylinder and also control the outlet thereof with the piston and cylinder arrangement being of the double-action type for forcing the plunger rod downwardly and for retracting the plunger rod 30. When the heel 14 is forced into the covering portion of the machine, it is detached from the holder 23 inasmuch as the holder 28 is provided only with a spring member for holding the heel thereto but yet permitting detachment thereof. When the covering operation has been completed, the covered heel will be ejected from the covering machine and may be placed in a suitable bin or the like.

The vertical frame elements 36 are rigidly attached to a supporting member 42 generally in the form of a table top member with this connection being of any suitable type such as welding 44. The table top member 42 is supported by a plurality of corner legs 46 which may vary in shape, length and other details. ln fact, the supporting mechanism may vary in any suitable manner so that the device may be installed wherever desired,

Supported on the plate member 42 is a base plate 43 which supports the heel and cover receiving and gripping mechanism generally designated by numeral 50.

The mechanism includes a pair of pneumatic piston and cylinder arrangements 52 (FIG. 3) supported from the vertical frame members 36 and having a piston rod 54 extending therethrough. The piston rod 54 is provided with a connector 56 for connecting the piston rod 54 to a pair of spaced clamp plates 58 and 69 (FIG. 8) which are held in position by a plurality of clamp bolts 62. Disposed between the plates 58 and 69 is a generally rectangular sheet of rubber material 64 having an overlying layer of stretchable material 66 and an underlying layer of stretchable material 68 which is also received between the clamp plates 58 and 63. The layers of material are preferably of fabric or knitted material such as the material employed in nylon or similar knitted stockings employed for purposes of compressing or partially compressing the leg for use in medical treatment. In order to lock the plates 58 and 6 to the material 66, 64 and 68, the plates 58 and are provided with longitudinally extending rod-like projections 70 for more securely gripping the resilient mmeber and the covering elements 66 and 68. The covering elements 66 and 63 will prevent undue chafing and wear on the rubber member 64 during the covering operation.

FIGURE 1 illustrates in more detail the connector 56 which is upstanding from the upper plate 58 and the piston rod 54 extends therethrough and is anchored thereto by a removable fastening element 72. The machine is symmetrical about a vertcial center and only the details of one side of the machine will be described. It is pointed out that the piston and cylinder arrangement is of a cushioning nature and that a relatively small pressure is exerted thereon in which the piston and cylinder arrangement will normally hold the resilient element and the covering elements in taut condition but will permit inward movement of the plates which will occur when the heel 14 is forced down through the mechanism 50.

Disposed under the resilient member 64 is a pair ofswing plates 74 and 76 which are hingedly connected to an underlying plate 78 by pins 80 received in slots 82. The facing edges of the plates 74, 76 are each provided with a bevelled recess 84 which forms substantially onehalf of a heel receiving recess and the bevel edge 84 will engage the underlying cover material 68 when the resilient element 64- is forced down between the plates 74 and 76. A central pin 86 is provided in the plate 78 for engagement in notches 88 in the plates 74 and 76. Pins or bolts 90 are provided on the plates 74 and 76 and a tension coil spring 92 interconnects the pins or bolts 94 urging the adjacent edges of the plates together. Also, the other ends of the plates 74 and 76 are each provided with a bolt or pin 94 for receiving a spring 96 thereon for resiliently urging the plates 74 and 76 toward each other into the condition illustrated in FIGURE 3 so that as the heel forces itself and the rubber element 64 down through and between the plates 74- and 76, the force exerted on the plates 74 and 76 will cause a wiping action on the heel cover for securing the heel cover and wiping out any wrinkles or other looseness in the cover in relation to the heel.

The plate 78 is provided with an enlarged opening 98 equivalent to the size and shape of the heel and providing clearance for movement of the heel as well as the rubber member 64 downwardly past the plate 78 into a position under the plate 78. The plate 78 is stationary and may be supported by standards 100 rigidly afiixed to the supporting base 48 in any desirable manner,

Disposed under the plate 78 is a heel receiving member 102 having an upwardly facing recess 104 shaped generally to conform to the surface 26 of the heel. The heel receiving member 102 is stationary and provided with laterally extending guides 166 which slidingly receives and guides an actuating plate connected to a piston rod 112 by a clevis 114 and pin 116. The piston rod 112 is extended through a grommet 118 in the frame member 36 and extends into a cylinder 120 secured to the frame 36 and extending outwardly therefrom. Oarried by the actuating plate 110 on the inner surface is a generally trapezoidal member 122 which is separable therefrom and which is adjustable by virtue of slots 124 and pins 126 which extend into the actuating plate 110. The other end portion of the plate 110 is provided with a lateral projection 128 having a curved downwardly facing surface 130 conforming to the curvature of the breast face 22 of the heel so that the edge of the heel cover which extends beyond the horizontal edge of the breast face may be forced inwardly into engagement with the breast face when the lateral extension 128 moves inwardly over the side edges of the heel receiving member 192 which projection 128 will engage the rubber member 64 and curl it or force it over the breast face for bringing the edge of the cover into contact therewith. The inclined edge 132 of the adjustable plate 122 is disposed in parallel relation to the attaching face 24 of the heel so that the portion of the cover 16 extending beyond the attaching face will be moved inwardly for generally engaging or at least extending inwardly into overlying relation to the upper attaching face. The heel receiving member 102 is provided with an end face or plate 134 which will engage the portion of the cover extending over the top lift attaching face of the heel 20 thus bringing this portion of the cover into engagement with the heel when the heel is forced into the recess 104 and with the rubber member wrapped partially therearound.

Extending to the rear of the machine or in facing relation to the operator is a cylinder 136 (FIG. 2) supported on a suitable bracket 138 and also a very small cylinder 140 disposed generally below the piston rod 142 extending from the cylinder 136. The cylinder 141! is also provided with a piston rod 144 having a block member 146 on the free end thereof for engaging the bottom edge portion of the attaching face of the heel to force that portion of the bottom surface of the heel cover into engagement with the attaching face. The piston rod 142 is provided with a generally U-shaped head 148 engaged therewith which will engage the outer end of the plates 122 for urging the plates 122 towards the attaching face so that the inclined edges 132 will engage the cover and cause the edges of the cover to be securely adhered to the attaching face. An inverted U-shaped element or guard 150 is provided in overlying relation to the operating head 148 which also is disposed above a connector 152 which connects head 143 to piston rod 142. The U-shaped element 150 also overlies a generally wedgeshaped member 154 which is movable between the adjacent ends of the plates 74 and 76 for spreading these plates apart to enable the resilient member 64 to spring back up out of the heel receiving form 192 so that the covered heel will pop out of the opening 98 and the resilient member 64 will actually toss the heel above the surface of the normal position of the member 64 whereby the heel may be easily caught by the operator and placed in a suitable bin, tote box or the like.

For holding the plates 74 and 76 down on the plate 78, there is provided a hold-down strap 156 which is secured to the plate 78 by fastening bolts 158 as clearly illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5. A counter 161) may be supported on the base plate 43 for counting the number of strokes of the piston rod 112 for keeping an accurate record of the number of heels that are covered by the machine.

The various pneumatic or fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder arrangements are all of conventional struc ture and are commercially available. Each of the operated piston and cylinder arrangements is controlled by solenoid valves and the piston and cylinder arrangements operate in a sequential manner and the usual accessories for an air system are provided such as the regulator valve, pressure gauge, lubricator and the like.

In operation, the operator places a cover on the member 66 and places a heel 14 into the holder and then depresses the push button switch 38 which starts the opera tion with the sequence of events being automatic for lowering the heel and forcing it down thus causing the rubber sheet to force the cover around the heel a portion of the rubber sheet, the cover and heel pass down through the plates 74 and 76 and down through plate 78 into the form 102, Inward movement of the actuating plates then occurs and subsequent inward movement of the plates 122 is caused by the piston rod 142 and movement of the block 148 is caused thus completely securing or causing adherence of the cover to the heel. The stretchable mesh or knitted nylon covering the rubber member on both sides thereof effectively prolong the useful life of the rubber by reducing the tendency of this type of rubber from becoming seriously chafed or othervn'se worn out which could occur if the protective coverings were not employed.

Referring now specifically to FIGURES 11-13, the numeral 162 designates another form of the invention including a table top-like member 164 having upright frame members 166 interconnected by a transverse frame mem her 168. Extending down from the table top member is a plurality of supporting legs 170 all forming a support for an index table mechanism generally designated by numeral 172 which will index the supporting plate 174 at positions. The index table mechanism is of conventional construction and is also provided with usual accessories with which an air operated index table is normally provided.

Disposed over the table 174 and supported from the frame member 16?, is a pneumatically operated piston and cylinder arrangement generally designated by numeral 176. The pneumatically operated piston and cylinder arrangement includes a cylinder 178 having a piston rod 134 thereon together with a bracket 182 for a roller 184 for operating a switch arm 136 which will cause operation of the index table to the next work position when the piston rod 186 is retracted. A suitable holder for a heel is connected to the piston rod 181} and will move the heel downwardly towards one of the heel receiving and gripping mechanisms 188 which are similar to the structure with the exception of the various gripping forms.

In this form of the invention, the heel receiving mechanism includes a pair of pivoted plates 19%) equivalent to the plates '74 and 76 and the resilient rubber member overlies the plates 199 and is omitted in FIGURE 12. A pair of clamp arms 192 are provided for holding down the heel cover and these clamp arms are turned down as indicated by numeral 194 for holding the cover in position so that when the heel is forced downwardly through the plates 199 and downwardly through the plate 196,

the rubber member will hold the heel cover around the heel. This form of the invention is also provided with a manually operable control switch for the operator so that the operator may cause downward movement of the heel when he is ready and subsequent operation of the device will be automatic through the entire sequence for applying the cover to one heel after which the operating switch again has to be ope-rated. In this form of the invention, additional workers may be placing the covers in position so that the production of covered heels may be expedited.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within thescope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A shoe heel covering machine comprising a generally vertically disposed frame having a substantially horizontal supporting platform mounted thereon, power operated means mounted on the upper end portion of said frame and including a member movable toward and away from the platform, means on said member for engagement with a heel for mounting the heel for movement toward and away from the platform, said heel engaging means engaging the juncture between the attaching face and breast of the heel, a supporting plate mounted on said platform, in vertically spaced relation above the platform, said plate having an aperture therein sufficient in size to permit the heel to be moved therethrough, a pair of swing plates mounted on the apertured plate and disposed against the upper surface thereof for overlying the aperture and being capable of swinging horizontally outwardly for revealing the aperture, a rubber sheet mounted on the apertured plate in overlying relation to the swing plates so that the heel will force a portion of the rubber sheet down through the apertured plate while spreading the swing plates apart, said rubber sheet adapted to receive a heel cover in overlying relation to the aperture in the apertured plate for engagement by the heel when the heel is forced downwardly so that the rubber sheet will curl around the heel and be extended downwardly between the swing plates and through the aperture in the apertured plate so that the resistance to movement of the rubber sheet will cause adhesive adherence between the heel and heel cover, and resilient means connected with the swing plates for urging the swing plates to their innermost position, the inner edges of the swing plates being beveled on their upper corners for guiding the rubber sheet therebetween and reducing the chafing of the rub ber sheet, the inner edges of the swing plates also having recesses therein which coact to form an opening similar in over-all shape to the heel for guiding the heel when it is forced downwardly between the swing plates.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said rubber sheet is provided with a pair of clamp plate members on each end thereof, and means interconnecting each pair of clamp plate members and the frame for mounting the rubber sheet in position.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said means interconnecting the clamp plates to the frame includes a fluid pressure cushioning device for maintaining the rubber sheet under a constant predetermined tension for controlling the force required to force the rubber sheet down between the swing plates and for varying the pressure exerted on the cover for securely applying it to the heel.

4. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said rubber sheet is provided with a covering member on the upper and lower surface thereof, each of said covering members including a fabric-like member of knitted resilient material for protecting the rubber sheet from chafing by the swing plates for increasing the effective life of the rubber sheet and also providing a surface for receiving the outer surface of the heel cover.

5. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said platform is provided with an upwardly facing heel receiving member having a recess opening to the upper surface thereof for receiving the heel and the rubber sheet when forced downwardly through the apertured plate, said recess conforming generally in shape to the heel.

6. The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein a pair of laterally movable vertical plates are disposed intermediate the platform and the apertured plate for movement towards and away from the heel receiving member, and means on each of said laterally movable plates for extending over and inwardly of the top edge of the heel receiving recess to move the edges of the cover into engagement with the breast surface of the heel.

7. The structure as defined in claim 6 wherein said means on each laterally movable plate for extending over and inwardly of the top edge of the heel receiving recess includes an arcuately curved lower face conforming to the curvature of the breast of the heel, and movabl members mounted on each laterally movable plate for extending into overlying relation to the attaching face of the heel.

8. The structure as defined in claim 7 wherein the movable members on the laterally movable plate are movable along the surface of the laterally movable plate towards and away from the attaching face of the heel whereby the movable members may be moved into overlying relation to the attaching face and then moved longitudinally of the heel into engagement with the attaching face thereby forcing the edge of the cover into the concave attaching face.

9. The structure as defined in claim 8 wherein said laterally movable plates are connected with fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder arrangements controlled by solenoid valves for moving the laterally movable plates inwardly after the shoe heel has been forced downwardly through the swing plates with the rubber sheet disposed in enclosing relation to the surface of the heel to be covered.

10. The structure as defined in claim 9 wherein means is provided for engaging the movable members mounted on the laterally movable plates for urging them into contact with the concave attaching face of the heel, said means includes a fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder arrangement having a substantially U-shaped member on the piston rod with the legs of the U-shaped member adapted to engage the movable members on the laterally movable plates for moving the movable members into engagement with the attaching face of the heel.

11. The structure as defined in claim 10 wherein said movable members engage only the side edges of the att aching face of the heel, and a projecting member adapted to engage the portion of the attaching face at the rear of the heel for moving this portion of the heel cover edge into engagement with the attaching face, said member being operated by a relatively small piston and cylinder assembly whereby substantially the complete peripheral edge of the heel cover will be engaged with the surface of the heel.

12. The structure as defined in claim 11 wherein said swing plates are provided with diverging edge portions on the free edge thereof, and a movable wedge member movable in response to movement of the movable members on the laterally movable plates for urging the swing plates outwardly when the heel cover has been completely applied so that the covered heel may then be ejected from the heel receiving member by the tendency of the rubber sheet to return to its normal position.

13. The structure as defined in claim 12 together with a counter mechanism disposed in the path of movement of the laterally movable plate for counting the number of heels covered.

14. The structure as defined in claim 13 wherein a strap member is mounted on the apertured plate in overlying relation to the swing plates for guiding the movement of the swing plates.

15. A shoe heel covering machine comprising a frame having a plate, movable means on said frame for holding a shoe heel and moving the heel towards and away from the plate, said means adapted to engage the heel for orientating the heel with the rounded surfa e facing the plate, said plate having an aperture therein for receiving the heel, a pair of movable plates mounted on said apertured plate and normally partially concealing the aperture in the apertured plate, said movable plates being movable laterally of the aperture in the apertured plate, a resilient member disposed against the top surface of the movable plates and being connected with the frame for engagement by the heel as it moves toward the apertured plate, said resilient member adapted to receive a flexible heel cover whereby the cover will be applied to the curved surface of the heel as the heel, cover and resilient member are forced between the movable plates and through the aperture in the apertured plate, and resilient means interconnecting said movable plates and urging the same towards each other whereby the movable plates assist in applying the heel cover to the heel as it is forced between the movable plates and the movable plates are forced outwardly from each other.

16. A shoe heel covering machine comprising a frame haw'ng a plate, movable means on said frame for holding a shoe heel and moving the heel towards and away from the plate, said means adapted to engage the heel for orientating the heel with the rounded surface facing the plate, said plate having an aperture therein for receiving the heel, a pair of movable plates mounted on said apertured plate and normal-1y partially concealing the aperture in the apertured plate, said movable plates being movable laterally of the aperture in the apertured plate, a resilient member disposed against the top surface of the movable plates and being connected with the frame for engagement by the heel as it moves toward the apertured plate,

said resilient member adapted to receive a flexible heel cover whereby the cover will be applied to the curved surface of the heel as the heel, cover and resilient member are forced between the movable plates and through the aperture in the apertured plate, and means mounted adjacent the surface of the ape rtured plate remote from the resilient member and movable plates for folding the edges of the cover over the edges of the breast surface of the heel.

17. The combination of claim 16 together with means mounted on the frame for folding the end edge of the cover over the edges of the attaching face of the heel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,682,022 Shaw Aug. 28, 1928 1,709,224 McIntosh Apr. 16, 1929 1,935,833 Devine Nov. 21, 1933 2,000,128 Devine May 7, 1935 

